Private downtown investors Daryl and Cynthia Pina gave the board a summary Thursday of their multi‑building renovations across downtown, saying they have invested more than $2 million across several properties and have ongoing tenant work including Panaderia Abuelitos and Lula Mae.

The Pinas described work at the Lyric, Home Depot Place, Hummingbird, Anderson Building and other properties, and said they have invested in structural remediation, new roofs, HVAC, murals and tenant fit‑outs. They also said some projects require long timelines and noted that permitting delays and tenant losses have at times slowed reuse of spaces.

Separately staff presented an update on the city’s Complete Streets corridor planning for US‑80 and Virginia (the downtown core zone), which shows a typical downtown cross‑section with parallel parking, wider sidewalks and two travel lanes in each direction. Staff said the plan was coordinated with TxDOT and noted the city should avoid large capital investments that TxDOT would later replace; staff recommended preservation of the plan and seeking a TxDOT program slot rather than spending large city sums now.

Staff also presented a proposal to close Catherine Street to through traffic and create a raised tabletop crossing between the north and south parts of Catherine — a pedestrian‑oriented plaza that would slow traffic and create a flexible event space. The concept would require TxDOT coordination for roadway and drainage changes; board members said the plaza could create a signature downtown civic space and requested additional analysis on parking and staging of South Alley improvements to provide alternate parking.

Why it matters: The Pinas’ investments and the Complete Streets/Catherine proposals are linked to downtown activation: private property rehabilitation, strategic public‑realm improvements and event space design all affect foot traffic, parking patterns and the feasibility of street‑level tenants.

Next steps: Staff will prepare budget workbook items for pedestrian lighting on US‑80, Catherine tabletop design options and South Alley reuse/parking improvements and will seek to coordinate sequencing with quiet‑zone grant and TxDOT schedules.